Chapter 2: Hero

"Xavier!"

Jenna rushed out the burning house and into her son, whom was battling with what looked to be soldiers alongside Garet and Roxas. Her crimson hair was in her usual ponytail. The red cape draped over her shoulders showed that she was ready before this even happened. On her simple red tunic she carried vials. Her Salamander Rod pulsed with fiery energy, just like her crimson eyes. "Mother! What's going on?"

Jenna merely shook her head at the question as she threw a Dragon Fume at the nearby soldier, flinging him into the stream. The village was an inferno. Bodies of the townsfolk riddled the ground. Houses were completely on fire by Mars psynergy. The stream was red with blood. People were being slaughtered left and right by the unknown monsters. The few people that remained were retreating their way to a nearby cavern under the ruins of Mount Aleph. Garet furiously cut through the few soldiers who approached, setting them aflame with the Fire Brand as they fell. He looked around to see who was still around. Not many soldiers were around, but he could feel an even greater power approaching with many more behind. "Xavier, you and Roxas head to Ivan's house. Roxas tell your father to make sure he's ready."

"What?" Xavier said as he dropped the last soldier. He turned to Garet and looked at his mother. Jenna smiled and glanced at Garet, who nodded at her.

"We have to stay," Jenna said, tightening her grip on her Salamander Rod.

"What? Why? There aren't anymore of those soldiers around and we can go!"

Garet put his hand on Xavier's shoulder and pointed to the south. Xavier looked through the flames and saw one man step through with at least twenty more soldiers behind him. Each soldier was encased in black armor, making them seem like monsters. The man was smiling as he approached, telling the dark knights to stay. The man was a sight to see. His dark red armor looked as if it was dipped in blood and carved by demons. His armor was covered top to bottom with rune symbols. The tunic he wore under it was as black as coal. His black cape seemed to sway with the fire as he neared. His brown hair flowed as evenly as his cape, yet his bangs covered his left eye. His brown eyes glinted with a lust for battle as he looked upon the four who stared back at him. His dark grin could been seen even from where they stood. His dark sword flared an eerie purple, and was also inscribed with those rune symbols.

"See them? We have to stop them where they stand."

"But just you two?"

"No. Sheba will help after she's done while Ivan gets you to Lemuria."

"My mother too?" Roxas interjected.

"But you'll die mother!"

Jenna smiled and looked at Xavier. "My son, you must survive!"

Xavier regarded her, then nodded.

Garet looked away towards the approaching man. "Hey, you guys get going now!"

Xavier looked at Garet, who had his sword aimed at the man that was slowly approaching. Roxas nodded and left already. Garet glanced at Xavier and looked back. "Don't worry, we'll be fine."

Xavier nodded and followed Roxas, who was far ahead. Garet looked at Jenna, who was ready to cast spells. "Well, I guess we can say goodbye to those two."

"Don't be silly, Garet. Who said anything about dying today?"

Garet laughed. "Okay then, how bout we defend ourselves then?"

"Be my guest."

"You're too kind," Garet answered as he charged hard and fast towards the approaching man, Jenna fast following. "Today…" Jenna started.

"is the day you fall, TRAITOR!"

The man merely laughed as he connected with Garet's Fire Brand with his own sword.

-

"Roxas, wait!" Xavier called to the boy who was way ahead of him. Roxas slowed slightly and looked behind him. "We have to hurry and get help or they'll die. Now hurry up!"

Xavier stopped. "We can help them ourselves! You heard Garet today! He said that we're almost as strong as they are. Let's go now!"

The boys were in front of Ivan's home, Kraden's old house. Roxas stopped and looked down. He knew they should go back and help, but what could they do? "Look, don't make this harder than it is, alright? We aren't them!!" Roxas snapped.

"Let's just do as they say!"

"But-"

"Don't you see? We'd just get in their way! Now c'mon and let's get my father."

"There's no need," said a male voice.

Roxas spun around to look into a pair of pale violet eyes. The figure looked a few years older than Roxas, but just by looking at him a person could tell he had quite a few more years under his belt than he looked. His short messy hair looked as if it was plastered to his head. He wore what seemed to be no more than normal traveler clothing, but at the neck a person could see the lining of ring mail. His cloak was a violet color with the symbol of Jupiter on it. On his belt was Swift, the shadow creator. "Father," Roxas said.

"Father, Garet and Jenna they-"

"I know, Roxas. I was just going there."

"Wait, you're not escorting us?"

"No."

"Then how're we supposed to get to Lemuria, Father?"

Ivan pointed to a cave that was beside the house. "In there is a teleport circle. When you step on it you will be transferred to a different location."

"Where?"

"Anywhere is better than here at the moment. Let's hope you get close or even in Lemuria."

"Wait," Roxas asked. "Why Lemuria, Father?"

Ivan regarded his son for a moment, then responded. "Protection, now go!"

The boys nodded as Ivan ran off towards the town. That's when something else popped into Roxas's head. "Father, where's Mother?" he yelled.

"Protecting the townsfolk!"

Ivan stopped and turned to the boys. "Be safe you two. You…you will turn the tide in this battle." That was the last thing Ivan said before he disappeared into the flaming town.

"Father!"

"Roxas…"

Roxas stared where his father ran off for awhile, then turned and cocked a grin towards Xavier. Xavier smiled back, knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Into trouble once again?"

"On your honor, Roxas."

The boys turned and quickly pursued Ivan, who was by now far ahead. "Heh. When have I had honor?"

Garet smashed his foot into the face of the nearest soldier, knocking him unconscious. Two more soldiers came and released a thrust towards Garet's head. Laughing at their speed, he dove and sliced upwards, severing both their arms and sending them to the ground. "Augh!" he yelled as another soldier swiped his back with an ax, leaving a deep gash where it struck. He quickly turned and severed the soldier's head off. He then fell to his knees, severely weakened from the attack. His vision started blurring. Blood flowed freely to the ground. How he wished Mia was around. But Garet knew he couldn't stop now, not until 'he' had fallen. The last five soldiers stood before him cackling laughs at the sight. Garet grinned and slowly rose to his feet facing the soldiers. "I don't know why you're laughing," Garet said as his sword flared harder and brighter than ever before with Mars energy. "'Cause you're going to die long before me!" he said. A Mars aura surrounded his body as he focused his attack.

I will protect them…

The soldiers were taken aback at first, but then laughed and charged with unrivaled might.

I will make sure the world will be safe in their hands…

Garet smiled as he aimed his sword at the soldiers and let out a single word…

Xavier….Roxas….live.

…"Purgatory."

-

Quickly Jenna parried the man's attacks, desperate to give the children and townsfolk enough time to get away. She ducked and rolled under the eerie blade, frustrating the man even further. She then countered with a Dragon Fume to the chest, pushing him back a little ways. She leaned on her Salamander Rod, tired from the constant onslaught of attacks. He's gotten stronger, Jenna thought. The man grinned at her fatigue. "How long can you hold, sister?" he said, slowly approaching the tired Jenna.

Jenna just grunted and charged at the man. The man merely swiped her attacks away like nothing just as Jenna was striking furiously. He then went on the offensive, setting Jenna back on her heels. She fought back furiously; dodging most of the blows, but still could not keep up with the speed of his sword.

She never saw it coming. The sword plunged deeply into her abdomen, pinning her to a ruined house wall. Blood ran down the sword and onto the ground. The man looked into Jenna's eyes. She was breathing heavily as she stared into his, her vision blurring from the unbearable pain of the cold blade inside her, but one thing told him the battle was not over.

I'll kill you, Brother.

Fire was still in her eyes, and she was smiling, though weakly.

A burst of lightning hit the man squarely in the chest, sending him flying into the river, and his weapon going with him. Ivan rushed up to Jenna, who was fast losing blood. "Jenna! I'm sorry I-"

His words quickly faded as he watched her flare an angry red. The unforgiving wound in her abdomen disappeared as if nothing happened. He perked up when he saw Jenna stand, rage burning in her eyes. "You son of a…"

An explosion went off where Garet stood. Jenna and Ivan were blinded from the blinding pillar of light that engulfed the area. The two adepts squinted to catch a glimpse of what was happening in that light. They both saw even through that blinding pillar a single person standing there. They could even make out the top of the figure's spiky hair.

"GARET!"

Xavier grabbed Roxas's wrist and flung him behind a nearby tree, concealing them both from soldiers that ran right past them towards Ivan's house. Roxas responded with his usual "Hmph."

"No point in going back now," Xavier whispered.

"Right, let's continue," Roxas answered.

They swiftly approached the road that led right into the plaza, right into the center of battle. As they approached the plaza they watched a blinding pillar of light tear through the thick smoke above the city and soar through the heavens above and then disappear. Both boys looked at each other, nervous at what it was. They were stunned at the light when they heard a female voice calling them from the front of the church further up town. "Roxas! Xavier!"

They turned around to see who was beckoning them, drawing their weapons in fear that it might be an enemy. Who they saw sparked relief in their hearts, but at the same time sparking terror.

A woman that looked no older than twenty stood in that spot. Her once neatly trimmed hair bangs were now saturated with blood. The violet Jupiter battle robes she bore were filled with cuts and slits. At about her lower left abdomen area a big stain of blood was where she was grasping with her right hand. In her left hand she held what seemed to be a regular silver mace. If the boys hadn't seen the devilish red aura emitting from the weapon they would not have thought it to be the legendary Thantatos Mace, the soul eater itself. Her left eye was shut due to blood running over it, but her remaining right seemed to reveal a violet eye that was still filled with the urge to fight. The breathing seemed shallow as though it would give out any minute, the same for her legs. The look on her face was a flustered and tired one. "What…dammit…are you two still doing here? You should have escaped long ago!" she approached them to the area where they stood.

"Mother!"

"Lady Sheba!"

"I am f-fine. Just a flesh wound," Sheba gasped as she fell to her knees and into Roxas's arms.

"Lady Sheba, what happened?"

"Those k-knights…what are they!? There….Demons!"

"Mother, we came to help!"

"No! You two can't be any help for now!" She looked towards the plaza.

"This is a fight that goes long before you two were able to use a sword. This battle is for us former heroes right now! What we are up against is someone you two cannot hope to go up against, at least not yet!" The woman turned and faced Xavier, who stared back in confusion. "Felix is not one that you two can hope to even compare to at this stage."

His eyes opened. He had heard the name of 'Felix' from his mother. He heard that she was his sister, and they were the closest out of the group. Something had to have happened if Felix was here making this attack on Vale. "That's right, Xavier. It is your own blood uncle," Sheba stared into Xavier's eyes.

"Felix."